Letters to the Editor

October 30, 2015

Opinion

Open Letter

To the Editor:

Open letter to the Mayor and Council Members for the City of Santa Paula.

According to an article in the Santa Paula Times, Sept 23, 2015, Santa Paula residents are again being urged to replace their salt based water softeners; will get up to $800 by removing these systems, since these treatment systems were outlawed by the City of Santa Paula a number of years ago. “The removal of the units is an amnesty program with no sanctions placed on those that are using the banned softeners.”

I was delighted when reading the article: twofold.

Firstly: this would remove additional salts/chlorides from the City’s waste waters.

Secondly: since some time ago I had complied with the City’s law and had replaced my salt based system with a “No-Salt Water Conditioning System - Easy Water.” My salt based system was disconnected and the new salt less system, Easy Water, was installed by the locally based plumbing company, Andy’s Place. Cost of the product and installation was $1695.15. I thought it would be nice to recoup a portion of the funds spent on the system.

I went to City Hall to obtain the required “Brine Discharge Water Softener and Incentive Program Application Form.” Brought it home and initiated reading and completing the application form.

Section 2 then informed me that I was not eligible for the program, the $800 reward, since I had already complied with the City’s law.

Maybe I had misread/misinterpreted the intent of the application form, so off to the Dept. of Public Works I went for clarification. I spoke with the individual in charge and was informed that I had indeed interpreted the information correctly.

To summarize our discussion; those individuals/residents that were failing to comply with the existing City law (breaking the law) would not only have any possible fines waived , but would actually qualify for a monetary reward of up to $800 ($500/$300). That individuals/residents that had complied with City law, (obeyed the law) but prior to the inception of the new program, would be entitled to nothing, zero, zilch,nada.

We are not talking about a program that consists of Thank yous and/or Atta/Boys/Girls(pc), but of a program that will not only waive any potential fines for non-compliance (breaking the law) but will then monetarily reward these individuals/residents once they are in compliance, while at the same time telling the individuals/residents that have obeyed the law, you are entitled to NOTHING.

I would appreciate a logical explanation of this program. A program that rewards (twofold) those individuals/residents that ignore the City’s law and penalizes those that obey those same laws.

Am I incorrect in my assertions/conclusions ? I wonder of the programs legality, if nothing else, it’s fairness.

I look forward to your response.

Thank you

James Sharak

Santa Paula Resident

Santa Paula

Project HOPE

To The Editor:

I was pleased to read the article informing the Council about Santa Paula Project HOPE. I am a member of this committee, but I want to give my personal opinion about a few things that were mentioned at the meeting.

First, the crime issue. While it is certainly true that some people who are homeless commit crimes, the vast majority do not. I want to make this clear: being homeless does not make you a criminal! At the same time I want to say how much I appreciate all the help and guidance that Chief McLean has provided our commitee. He gave valuable information and his concerns cannot be ignored. We certainly want to work with law enforcement, and we do not excuse criminal activities.

But helping our homeless people is much more that just identifying those that cause problems. It involves us understanding the problems these people face and finding solutions tailored to their needs. It especially involves compassion for our fellow humans in our community. Having help and support not only from Spirit of Santa Paula and the faith community, but also from Santa Paula Police Department and the Ventura County Behavioral Health and Ventura County Human Services Agencies has been essential. Any progress made in helping those in critical need has been due to collaboration all-around.

Here’s the most important thing - the key to helping homeless people is housing! And so I want to address Councilwoman Gherardi’s comments regarding helping those that can be helped and dealing with those that can’t be helped, and also Chief McLean’s comments regarding those who don’t want help and don’t want to follow the rules:

1. There is no one that can’t be helped unless they are dead.

2. It’s not that people don’t want help, it’s that they don’t want what we are offering them (or we are not offering them what they need - a safe place to live).

A Housing First approach has been found to work throughout the United States in helping to end homelessness. That means that first we get people in housing - a safe place to live - then we offer the services that are needed. I know that most agencies always used the concept that a person has to get “cleaned up” and “fixed up” before they are “housing ready”. That approach is not correct. I cannot imagine trying to beat a substance abuse issue while living on the streets. I cannot imagine trying to heal from physical illness on the streets. I cannot imagine trying to treat mental illness while living on the streets. But it is possible when you are housed. If you think about it, it makes sense. Most people with substance abuse issues, physical disabilties, mental illness, etc., are housed.

In following HUD’s (Department of Housing & Urban Development) lead, our community’s goal must be: To Make Homelessness Rare, Brief, and Non-Recurring. To do this we must find ways to prevent homelessness and to house people as soon as possible with appropriate services, if needed. All agencies that receive funding from HUD are strongly urged to have the same goal, and to use a Housing First Approach (funding can depend on this!). How we do this is what our Committee is learning. The learning curve is steep, but we are all passionate for this cause. I personally believe that as we inform the community and with their support and that of the Council, we can reach that goal. I do hope that the Council has the upcoming El Nino in mind, and that we can work together in finding ways to make shelter available this Winter.

For information about Housing First and how it works, there is plenty of information available here: